The Coldest Grooves to Catch at Igloofest 2026
Igloofest 2026 returns to Montréal’s Old Port with four weekends of electronic music, winter chaos, and world-class DJs. While the headliners draw the crowds, the most memorable moments often come from the artists flying just under the radar.
At Best Kept MTL, we combed through the full Igloofest 2026 lineup to spotlight the most underrated house, tech-house, and techno artists across all weekends. These are the sets we’re personally attending, the ones with real stage presence, tight crowd control, and the kind of groove that makes you forget the temperature.
If you’re planning your nights at Igloofest 2026 in Montréal and want more than just the obvious picks, this is where to start.
Nicole Moudaber b2b Misstress Barbara
📅 Friday, January 23, 2026
📍 Sapporo Stage
This is the reference point. Deep, hypnotic techno with total crowd control. No gimmicks, no filler, just pressure, pacing, and authority. One of the most serious bookings of the entire festival and a guaranteed moment for proper heads.
Honey Dijon
📅 Weekend TBA (Igloofest 2026)
📍 Main Stage (Ville-Marie / Old Port site)
Not underrated musically, but still underestimated as a live force. Honey Dijon reads crowds with precision and delivers sets that feel both inclusive and intentional. Expect movement, warmth, and one of the most complete dancefloor experiences of the festival.
Sama’ Abdulhadi
📅 Weekend TBA (Igloofest 2026)
📍 Sapporo Stage
Raw, focused, and uncompromising. Sama’ Abdulhadi’s techno is physical and controlled, cutting straight through the cold. This is a set for people who want intensity without theatrics, one of the most powerful underground moments across all weekends.
Juliet Fox
📅 Weekend TBA (Igloofest 2026)
📍 Sapporo Stage
Fast, driving, and relentless. Juliet Fox delivers high-impact techno built for outdoor environments. The kind of set that keeps bodies moving simply to stay warm and loving it.
Nostalgix
📅 Saturday, January 24, 2026
📍 Sapporo Stage
Bass-forward house with confidence and flow. Nostalgix has a way of sneaking up on people — casual listeners turn into locked-in dancers fast. One of the most accessible yet effective house sets on the lineup.
TSHA
📅 Weekend TBA (Igloofest 2026)
📍 Main Stage
Emotionally rich house music with beautiful structure and momentum. TSHA doesn’t overpower a crowd — she pulls it together. A perfect counterbalance to harder techno nights and a standout for those chasing groove over chaos.
San Farafina
📅 Friday, January 23, 2026
📍 Videotron Stage
A true sleeper pick. Groove-driven, rhythmic, and hypnotic. San Farafina creates the kind of flow that keeps people around longer than planned. One of those sets people discover by accident and remember afterward.
Misstress Barbara (Solo Set)
📅 Weekend TBA (Igloofest 2026)
📍 Sapporo Stage
Beyond the b2b, Misstress Barbara on her own remains one of Montréal’s most commanding techno figures. Home-crowd energy, sharp selections, and a deep understanding of how to hold a dancefloor in harsh conditions.
Best Kept MTL Final Word
We don’t chase the obvious. These are the sets where the temperature drops and the quality rises. Less spectacle, more substance. As a team of curators, we’ll be attending across the weekends, moving between stages, trusting our instincts and doing what we do best — spotting and amplifying the moments that actually matter.
Real resolutions aren’t about perfection, they’re about choosing experiences that actually stick and shape how you live all year long.
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